Sheet segregating apparatus



April 6, 1937. l D. H. WHITEHEAD I 2,076,391

SHEET SEGREGATING' APPARATUS lFiled Feb.' 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EHN H. W-H/TEHEHD am y maa-,W- j Xga/veg? April 6, 1937. D. H, WHITEHEAD I SHEETl SEGREGATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.v 27, 1935 H. Illy/4671, .I

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DENN H. WHJTEHe/qg April 6, 1937. t D. H. WHITEHEAD SHEET SEGREGATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. -1?.7, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w WW E 68 lil-mu Patented Apr. 6, 1937 SHEET SEGREGATING APPARATUS Dean H. Whitehead, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-half to John R. Nalbach, Oak Park,

Application February 27,- 1935, Serial No. 8,490

10 Claims. (Cl. 271-64) This invention relates to improvements in sheet segregating apparatus.

In business establishments it is frequently necessary to make several copies of an original written or typewritten sheet, such as an order for goods for example, which copies are made on special forms for several departments of the establishment, that is, shipping, cost, production, credit, accounting departments, etc. In duplicating a number of orders on special forms for several departments by means of a conventional duplicating machine which discharges the forms into a tray or suitable receptacle, it is necessary to assort the copies for delivery to the respective departments.

One object of the present invention is .to provide mechanism by means of which sheets of printed matter can be segregated into selected groups.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet segregating mechanism comprising a plu rality of trays or like receptacles for receiving segregated sheets and a movable guide for directing printed sheets into the selected trays.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet segregating mechanism provided with a plurality of trays and-automatic'means for guiding sheets to all such trays in predetermined order or to a lesser number of the trays in a predetermined order. Thus, for example, if four trays are provided, the mechanism can be adjusted to deliver certain copy sheets to each of the trays in succession and other sheets to the trays or to a less number of trays in a diierent order.

Other objects relate to Various features of construction and arrangement of parts which` will be apparent from a consideration of the following specication and accompanying drawings, Where' Figure l is a side elevation of a sheet segregating mechanism embodying the present improvements, and shown in cooperative relation with a conventional duplicating machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional v iew taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1. y

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5- 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a broken side elevation of a modiiled form of the invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 6, but illustrating the same in a different operative position.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a duplicating 5 machine and a further modified form of the invention shown in operative relation with respect thereto.

In the drawings, IIl represents a drum of a conventional duplicating machine'. This drum 10 may carry a master, not shown, in contact with which successive sheets of paper are placed, and kare carried around the drum and then.` removed by means of a stripper bar 'II and stripping rollers I2 and I3. 15

In Figure 1 a sheet I4 is being discharged from between the rollers. The form of the machine shown in the drawings is provided with a handle I5 for operating the drum although as will be seen, the invention may be employed as 20 well with a motor driven machine.

'I'he particular form of duplicating machine illustrated forms no part per se of the present improvements. l

The drum I0 is mounted for rotation with a. 25' shaft I6 suitably journaled in the frame I1 of the machine. Secured to the shaft I6 for rotation therewith is a pinion I8 which meshes with a gear' I9 also rotatably journaled on the frame I1.

A one tooth gear 20 is secured to or formed 30 as a part of the gear I9 and rotates with the latter. The single tooth 2| of the gear 2II is arranged to actuate a star wheel 22 with an intermittent motion. As will be seen, the pinion 'I8 will make 'one complete rotation with each 35 rotation of the drum I0, as will also lthe gear I9. 'I'he star wheel 22, as shown, is provided with six teeth and hence will be rotated one sixth of .a revolution for each revolution made by the drum. 40'

The star wheel 22, as shown in Figure 3, is` xedly mounted on a hollow shaft or tube 23, which is journaled in standards 24 carried by the frame I'I'.

A shaft 25 is slidable axially Within the tube 45 23 and is provided with a key 26 which projects through a slot 21 formed in the tube 23. 'I'hree cams 28 29 and 30 'aremounted on the-tube 23 and are arran-ged to be selectively operated for swinging a sheet guide 3| into registration with 50 any of the sheet receiving receptacles such as the four trays 32, 33, 34 and 35. The trays are held in inclined position as shown in Figure 1, by means of supports 36. The sheet guide 3l is pivotally mounted on a rod 31 extending between 55 the side frame members I1. The lower surface.

of vthe guide 3| is provided with a cam follower bar 38, by means of which the cams 28 to 38 swing the guide 3| into registering position with 5 the trays 38 to 35, as more specifically described hereinafter.

The stripping rollers I2 and I3 discharge the copy sheets from the machine uponthe guide 3|,

a conventional sheet deflector 39 being shown for deflecting the sheet downwardly upon the guide.

When a sheet is discharged into the guide 3|,

when the latter is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the sheet slides-across the guide and into the tray 32. If the mechanism is set to retain the guide in the position just mentioned,

'20 in succession into the trays as the guide moves fromthe upper position shown in dotted lines to the lowermost position shown in full lines.

Four trays only have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the principle of the invention, althoughit'will be obvious that additional sets of trays may be provided as required.

The cams 28, 29 and 3|),each is provided with a slot 28a, 29a and v38a respectively, into which the key 29 may be moved by axial movement of the 30 shaft 25 to throw the selected cam into operation. Cam 28 is so shaped as to move the guide 3l from tray 32,` in succession to tray 33, thence -to tray 34 and then to guide 35, and to hold the tray in the latter position during two revolutions of the drum 35 l0. During these two revolutions the -old master can be stripped from the drum and a new master placed thereon. Upon the next revolution of the drum and during which a sheet is fed through the machine, the cam 28 will again lift the guide 3| to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. On the next three rotations of the drum the guide 3| drops intermittently to positions registering with the three lower trays for effecting the discharge of the sheets into the same. Cam 28 will be operated as above described when the key 28 is in the position shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 3 the three cams 28 to 30 inclusive are shown with their. lowest points in upper position,and in contact with the follower bar 38. It

is, of course, necessary that each of the cams have a l'ow point which permits the guide 3| to move to the lowest position in order to avoid interference with the follower 38 when it is-being operated by any one of the cams.

Assuming that Ithe cam 28 is in the position shown in Figures 3 and4 4, the guide 3| will be in the full line position shown in Figure 1.

As the cam rotates one sixth of a revolutionl when the vstar wheel 22 is engaged by the tooth 2| upon each revolution of thedrum I0, as above l described, it will be seen that the bar 38 will remain stationary as the cam rotates'` in the direction of the `a'rrow through an arc of 120 degrees or dring two steps of the intermittent operation. During these two steps as above described, the master on the drum I0, if it is in the form of a sheet, canbe stripped therefrom and a new master placed in position, if such is desired.

During the next one sixth of a revolution, the high point of the cam will engage the follower bar 38 and swing the guide 3| upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figures l and 4.

During the next movement of the cam through a sixty degree arc, the guide 3| will be lowered into alignment with the second tray, and then to the third tray, and then into the position shown in Figure 4, in alignment with the lower tray. During each of such step by step movements a sheet |4 will be discharged onto the guide 3| and slid into the corresponding tray.

By moving the shaft 25 to the right as viewed in Figure 3, the key 26 will pass into a slot or keyway 39a. of the collar 39 which is fixedly attached to the hollow shaft 23. Additional collars 48, 4| and 42 provided with slots 40a, 4|a and 42a are provided for spacing the cams 28 to 30 on the tube 23, as shown in Figure 3.

When the key 26 is slid into the slot 39a, the cam 28 will remain stationary as the tube 23 and shaft 25 rotate. I have provided ball detents 43 carried by arms 44 for seating in recesses 45 provided in the faces of the cams to retain the cams against rotation due to friotional contact thereon by the collars above mentioned.

It will thus be seen that when the cam 28 has moved the guide 3| into alignment with any particular tray, the key 28 can' be moved into one of the slots 39a or 48awhereupon the cam becomes stationary and the guide member remains in` alignment with the selected tray. Upon rotation of the tube 23 and shaft 25 to the position where the key 28 was disengaged from the cam, it may be moved agin into engagement therewith for moving the guide as above described.

When the guide 3| is in the lowermost position wherein the cams have their low points uppermost as shown in Figure 3, the key 26 can be shifted to the left by means of the sliding shaft 25 to render either cams 29 or 30 operative. Cam 29 as shown in Figure 5, is arranged to move the guide from lower position into alignment with tray 32, and thence into alignment with tray 34, and then to the lowermost position. 'Ihe guide will remain in that position while the drum I0 moves through three revolutions. Cam. 38 may be so shaped as to move the tray from lowermost position up to tray 33, then to tray 34 and again into alignment with tray 35, if so desired.

If the operator rst places a master on ,the drum copies of which are to go into each of the four trays shown, the key 28 `will be thrown into engagement with the cam 28. If the next master to be placed on the machine is to provide copies for each of the trays, the key 28 will be left in the same position.

Should it be desired that copies of a subsequent master be placed in trays 32, 34 and 35, for example, the key 26 will be shifted into engagement with the cam 29, whereupon the guide moves into registration with tray 32, from which position it drops into, registration with tray 34 and then to lowermost position, as described above.

The shaft 25 is shown provided .with annular',

grooves 48, 41 and 48, into which seats a spring pressed detent 49 to hold the shaft in the axial adjusted position, wherein the key 28 engages cams 28, 29 or 39, respectively. 'I'he shaft 25 may be positioned manually by means of a knob 50 attached to the end thereof.

- The form of the invention shown in Figures 6. '7 and 8 also has means for selectively actuating the guide 5| into registration with the trays 52, 53, 54 and 55. The drum 58 rotates with a shaft 51 mounted on which is a cam 58 having a. cam surface 59. On each rotation of the drum the cam 59 forces an arm 88, which is pivotedvat 6| to the frame,to the left, as viewed in Figure 6, the arm 89 being provided with a cam follower 82 which contacts with the surface of the member 5l. This clockwise movement. or movement Y to the left takes place against the action of the spring 63. Secured tothe arm El! is a pawl |54` which engages ratchet 65 which is secured to the hollow shai't 66a upon which the operating cams are mounted, one cam 61 only being shown.' Extending through the shaft 66a is shaft 66, these two shafts corresponding respectively to shafts 23 and 25 of Figure 3. The mounting of the cam and means for selecting the cam for operating the guide 5I may be in accordance with the structure above described.

The ratchet 65 is provided with an arm 68 to which is attached a spring 89 as shown, the spring tending to hold the ratchet in the position shown in Figure 6.

Movement of the arm 68 to the left under the action of the cam surface 59 causes the pawl 54 to rotate the ratchet/65 clockwise as viewed in Figure 6, a distance corresponding to two of the ratchet teeth 65a.

A detent 10 is pivoted at 1I to a post 12 and holds the ratchet against return movement under the action of the spring 69, as the cam follower 62 and arm 50 move to the right under action of the spring 83.

The cam 61 is shaped suitably to move the guide 5| with a step by step action into registration with the trays 52 to 55 inclusive or into registration with any series of trays as may be desired. When the guide has thus been moved by successive action of the pawl and ratchet mechanism to the lowermost position the guide 5| can be released by pressing downwardly upon the pedal 13 which is pivoted at 14 to a portion of the frame 59.

The pedal 13 is connected by a link 15 to an arm 16 also pivoted to the frame at 11 which moves the bar 18 downwardly.

The bar is provided with aslot 19 adjacent its upper end in which is a pin 80 which pivotally connects the bar to the detent 10. A second slotted bar 8l connects the detent 18 with the pawl 64.

A slot 82 in the bar 8| provides for free movement of the pawl in actuating the ratchet 65.

Downward movement of the bar 18 when the pedal 13 is depressed by the operator releases the detent 10 and the pawl 54 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 65a, whereupon the spring 69 moves the ratchet 65 to the position shown in Figure 6. Such movement eiects the rotation of the shaft 58 and turns the cam 61 to the position shown wherein the guide 5| is held in registration with the top tray 52.

Should the operator desire to discharge all the copy sheets from a given master into the top tray, the pedal 13 is held in depressed position by means of a dog 83, arranged to be tilted forwardly into engagement with a notch 84 formed 50 in a portion of the frame. The pawl 64 will thus be held out of engagement with the teeth 65a and while the arm 60 will be swung to the left upon each rotation of the drum, the shaft 66 and cam 61 will remain stationary. y 65 In Figure 9 a duplicating machine indicated generally by the numeral V85 is shown, to the frame 86 of which a guide 81 is pivoted at 88. The guide is arranged to discharge sheets into any one of the spaced trays 89 depending on the angular position of the guide. The guide may be manually operated by means of a manually operable bar 90 pivotally connected at 9| to the lower surface of the guide, and having a series of teeth 92 arranged to be engaged bya catch member 93 secured to a forward portion of the y illustration, Ido not Wish to be restricted specif cally thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Sheet segregating mechanism comprising a t plurality of sheet receptacles, a swinging sheet guide arranged for movement into registration with said receptacles, and selectively operable members each for actuating said guide into registration with selected receptacles in a sequence different from that effected by the remaining member or members.

2. A sheet segregating machinev comprising a plurality of verticallyfspaced sheet receiving receptacles, a horizontally pivoted sheet guide having a free end movable into registering position with respect to selected receptacles in predetermined sequence, and a plurality of members each selectively actuable for actuating said guide into registering positions in a predetermined sequence different from that effected by the other member or members. V

3. A sheet segregating machine comprising a plurality of vertically spaced sheet receiving receptacles, a horizontally pivoted sheet guide having a free end movable into registering position with respect to selected receptacles in predetermined sequence, means for actuating said guide into such positions in said sequence, and means for interrupting the operation of said actuating means for retaining said guide in registration with a selected receptacle for delivering successive sheets thereto.

4. A sheet segregating machine comprising a plurality of sheet receiving receptacles,l a swinging sheet guide arranged for movement into registering position with respect to each of said receptacles, a plurality of cams each for actuating said guide into registering positions in sequence with respect to a predetermined group of said rcceptacles, and means for selectively operating said cams.

5. A sheet segregating machine comprising a plurality of sheet receiving receptacles arranged in vertically spaced relation, a sheet guide arranged for movement into registering position with respect to said receptacles for conveying sheets thereto, a plurality of selectively operable cams each arranged to move said guide into registering position with respect to a selected group .of said receptacles, and means for operating the selected cam.

6. The combination with a sheet discharge ranged for movement into registering positions with respect to said receptacles for conveying discharged sheets thereto, and means comprising a plurality of cams each for moving said guide intermittently into registering positions with respect to a selected group of receptacles in timed relation with respect to the discharge of sheets from said mechanism, lsaid means comprising also a star wheel and means for actuating the same by power derived from said machine.

7. The combination with a sheet discharge mechanism of a printing machine, of a plurality of sheet receiving receptacles, a sheet guide ar- 60 mechanism of a printing machine, of a plurality of sheet receiving receptacles, a sheet guide ar ranged for movement into registering positions with respect to said receptacles for conveying discharged sheets thereto, andmeans comprising a plurality of cams each for moving said guide in- 5 termittently into registering positions with respect to a selected group oi said receptacles in timed relation with respect to the discharge of sheets from said mechanism, said means comprising also a pawl and ratchetmechanism ar- 10 ranged for operation by power derived from said machine.

8. A sheet segregating machine comprising a plurality of sheet receptacles, a swinging sheet guide arranged for movement into registering po- 15 sitions with respect to selected receptacles, mechanism for actuatingv said guide into such positions, means for interrupting the operation of said mechanism for retaining said guide in registration with a selected receptacle, and means for 20 returning said guide to initial position from any operating position.

9. A sheet segregating machine comprisingA a plurality of vertically spaced sheet receiving receptacles, a horizontally pivoted sheet guide having a free end movable into registering position with respect to each of said receptacles, a. plurality of cams each arranged for moving said guide sequentially into registering position with 5 respect to a selected group of said receptacles,

a rotary drive shaft upon which said cams are mounted, and means for eiecting a driving engagement of the shaft with a selected cam.

10. A sheet segregating machine comprising a 10 plurality of spaced sheet receiving receptacles, a pivoted sheet guide having a free end movable intoregistering position with respect to each ci said receptacles, a plurality oi.' cams each arranged for'moving said guide sequentially into 15 registering position with respect to a selected group of said receptacles, a longitudinally recessed rotary drive shaft upon which said cams are mounted, vand means operable within said recess for eiecting a driving engagement of the 20 shaft with a selected cam.

DEN H. WHITE-HEAD. 

